Table of Contents
An Introduction to Whitby
From the atmospheric Abbey towering over winding cobbled streets to the windswept beach and working harbour, Whitby is not your traditional coastal town. No trip to this picturesque ancient seaport would be complete without sampling some award-winning fish and chips, following the footsteps of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and English explorer Captain James Cook or discovering the history of the famous Whitby Jet.
Enjoy the North York Moors, Yorkshire Coast and Howardian Hills by public transport, find out more.
Places to Stay in Whitby
Hotels in Whitby
The following hotels are in or very close to Whitby.
Sneaton Castle
Castle Road, Whitby, YO21 3QN, United KingdomThe Stables at Crossbutts
Guisborough Road, Whitby, YO21 1TL, United KingdomThe Woodlands
The Valley, Sandsend, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3TEDunsley Hall Country House Hotel
Dunsley, Whitby, YO21 3TL, United KingdomThe Seacliffe – Whitby
12 North Promenade, Whitby, YO21 3JX, United KingdomThe Resolution Hotel
1 Skinner Street, Whitby, YO21 3AH, United KingdomThere’s more hotels to choose from in Whitby. Click here to view them all.
Self Catering Holiday Cottages
Below you can see a small sample of the many great holiday cottages in Whitby. Click here to view them all.
Sea Urchin
22 Grove Street, Whitby, YO21 1PP, United KingdomWhalebone Cottage
Whitby, YO21 1TL, United KingdomHost & Stay – The Townhouse
24 Church Street, Whitby, United KingdomHost & Stay – Mast Cottage
11 The Cragg, Whitby, United KingdomEsk View Holiday Cottage
22 The Carrs, Ruswarp, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1RLPennysteel Cottage
3 Boathouse Yard, Staithes, Whitby, North Yorkshire, TS13 5BNThings to do in Whitby
The Stables Restaurant & Farm Shop at Cross Butts
Guisborough Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1TLThe Magpie Cafe
14 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PUWhitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JTOld Coastguard Station
The Dock, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4SJWhitby Coastal Cruises
The Brewery Steps, Lower Harbour, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PRWhitby Brewery
East Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JRWhitby Whale Watching
6a Albion Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1ESBark Endeavour
Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PUBaxtergate Shop & Cafe
Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BWWetwheels Yorkshire
Wetwheels Yorkshire, Whitby Harbour, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1YWWhitby Museum Tea Room
Pannett Park, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1REWhite Horse & Griffin Restaurant
87 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BHW Hamond Tea Room
Directly Above W Hamond Boutique, 112 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4DEThe White House Restaurant
Upgang Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3JJThe Wheatsheaf Inn
Egton, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1TZThe Runcible Spoon
16 High Street, Hinderwell, Whitby, North Yorkshire, TS13 5JHThe Postgate
Egton Bridge, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1UXThe Hare & Hounds
High Street, High Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4LHThe Four Seasons Restaurant
14 Bridge Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BGThe Fisherman’s Wife
Khyber Pass, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PZThe Angel Hotel
1 New Quay Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1DHThe Artisan Cafe @ The Geall Gallery
Front Street, Grosmont, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO225QESkippers Cafe
Skippers Café, 5 Haggersgate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PPShepherds Hall Tea Rooms & Craft Gallery
Lealholm, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2AQRoyal Fisheries
48 Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BLRomerojo’s
5a Golden Lion Bank, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3BSQuayside
7 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PURaithwaite Estate Dining
Sandsend, Raithwaite, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3STNorth Beach Cafe
North Beach, North Promenade, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3ENMoors Coffee Shop
The Green, Goathland, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 5LXMister Chips Seafood Restaurant
68/69 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4ASMallyan Spout Bar and Restaurant
The Common, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 5ANMademoiselles
1 Skinner Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3AHHumble Pie ‘n’ Mash
163 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4ASWhitby images
About Whitby
Whitby is one of the most famous and popular seaside towns in Yorkshire.
Whitby is split by the River Esk. On the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea, the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for “Dracula”. Nearby is the Church of St. Mary, reached by 199 steps.
The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in the house where Cook once lived, displays paintings and maps.
West of town is West Cliff Beach, lined with beach huts.
As well as being the birthplace of some of modern history’s best known stories, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage.
Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula.
For industry, as well as fishing, Jet and alum were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th century.
The abbey ruin at the top of the East Cliff is the town’s oldest and most prominent landmark.
Other significant features include the swing bridge, which crosses the River Esk and the harbour, which is sheltered by the grade II listed East and West piers.
The town’s maritime heritage is commemorated by statues of Captain Cook and William Scoresby, as well as the whalebone arch that sits at the top of the West Cliff.
The town also has a strong literary tradition and has featured in literary works, television and cinema.
See more on the Yorkshire Coast here.
Whitby on the Map
Where is Whitby? You can find Whitby at the edge of the North York Moors National Park, on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Specifically, it is in North Yorkshire, in between Scarborough and Saltburn.
Whitby has a train station, at the end of a branch line from Middlesbrough, and is on the main A171 road which runs from Middlesbrough to Scarborough. There is a junction in the middle of the town with the A174 which follows the coast more closely, through the towns of Saltburn, Marske and Redcar.
Whitby FAQ’s
Is Whitby worth visiting?
Short answer: yes! A compact, historic harbour town with bustling cafe’s, restaurants, steps up to an ancient abbey and glorious sea views.
What is Whitby famous for?
Whitby is famous for fish & chips as well as Whitby Abbey – the inspiration for the setting of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”.
Who is the most famous person in Whitby?
Captain Cook – Captain James Cook is famous for his discovery of Australia. He was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, captain in the British Royal Navy and most likely one of Whitby’s most famous people.
Why is Whitby famous for Dracula?
Novelist, Bram Stoker, stayed in Whitby and used the ancient ruins of the abbey overlooking the cliffs as the setting for his gothic horror “Dracula”.